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T O P I C R E V I E W

ozspace

I thought you may be interested to see my video of the Apollo Launch Umbilical Tower that was at the KSC industrial area for many years, but is now scrapped. I was escorted in by Manny Virata of KSC Public Affairs and a real gentleman and with endless patience for us space geeks. This was back in 2000 and I only just rediscovered this video, please enjoy!

Rick Boos

GREAT video! A real piece of history there! I treasure all the footage I took at all the abandoned pads in the 80's for most of them are gone now, and those that aren't will be soon.

I think someday collecting and having artifacts from sites will have it's day too. Once these sites are gone, they are gone forever!

It took this kind equipment to get us there, nuts, bolts, steel, cement, and vision! Thankful for photos and video of a time that once was! Remember how impressive the aerial photo of ICBM row was.... look at the same view today!

I am thankful I was born and that I got to see these sites up close and in person and have tid bit pieces to always remember them by!

Rick Mulheirn

Thanks for sharing the video. I too was fortunate to have had a guided tour of KSC with Manny Virata in 2003 that included the boneyard though by that time, he was not permitted to take me in for the "toxic" reasons already mentioned.

Manny has always been a great guy and incredible help to space nuts. Sadly he has now retired I believe but he does help out at the Press Site on launch days as a volunteer. He was at the site for STS-125.

ilbasso

My second reaction on seeing this video is "There's a tetanus shot waiting to happen."

Does anyone know if NASA, US government or any other body would have any legal issues with such 'tid bits' in the hands of private citizens, inside or outside the US? Just a speculation...

garymilgrom

Ahhhhh ICBM row. I haven't thought of that in years. THAT was a spaceport!

Great video, thank you for sharing.

Rick Boos

quote:Originally posted by ozspace:Does anyone know if NASA, US government or any other body would have any legal issues with such 'tid bits' in the hands of private citizens, inside or outside the US?

I had permission! It was not theft or anything illegal! Why try to start something or make something out of nothing and twist it all around? The pads were sold for scrap! They even had the Boy Scouts go out and help clean up pad #34 and throw the stuff away! One man's junk is another mans treasure! Remarks like this make me wonder about some of today's collectors and the direction collecting is going!

fireflyer21

Thanks for posting that video. Great stuff!

ozspace

quote:Originally posted by Rick Boos:I had permission! It was not theft or anything illegal! Why try to start something or make something out of nothing and twist it all around?

Not trying to make problems or controversy, I agree with you wholeheartedly. I have some bits myself and I had permission too but was not sure if it was 'official' and don't want to get anyone in trouble if I were to display.

These were not flown items and significant only to those who know and understand there significance. It would be nice to have some site where we could all 'show and tell', I just wanted to see if there may be any 'issues'. You are right, one man's junk...

Rick Boos

I'm sorry for coming down on you so hard, I misunderstood where you were coming from! To answer your question, I doubt if there would be any issues unless you didn't have permission in the first place, or if you were defacing something like pad 34 or pad 14 which are historic landmarks. Heck the Air Force came up with a number launch complex artifact related memorabilia such as the complex 26 card, pad 14 display, and a multi-pad display. Actually NASA has nothing to do with the abandoned launch sites, they were turned back to the Air Force.

ozspace

No worries, so should we photograph and post here somewhere?

ozspace

I have uploaded an extended version of my year 2000 video in the boneyard (with stabilization and slow down), with additional material from "Moonwalk One" and A11 countdown audio. Enjoy!

Ronpur

I remember spotting part of this while on a tour back in the early 90s. I snapped a few pictures from a distance. I wish I could have gone over and grabbed a piece!